Spineward Sectors 03 Admiral's Tribulation by Luke Sky Wachter

Author:Luke Sky Wachter [Wachter, Luke Sky]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2013-04-20T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 39: Those Traitorous Marines!

“I’m registering a large number of power-armored figures up ahead, My Lady,” reported one of the more technically inclined members of her honor guard, stereotypically it was one of the Starborn.

“Pirates,” Akantha asked, delighted with this turn of events.

“From the readouts they look more like…Marine Jacks, My Lady,” said the technician.

Akantha scowled. “Well, what are they doing,” she said with a sigh.

“It looks like they are all stopped outside of Main Engineering,” he reported.

“Let us hope they haven’t succeeded in mopping up all the Star Bandits in Engineering, or this trip will have been for nothing,” she said with a sigh.

“You call blasting over twenty armed pirates on the way down here nothing,” protested the Shuttle Pilot in a rising voice.

“The only battlesuit we encountered was using the one you’re wearing right now,” she said scornfully, “the rest were mere fodder for our guns.”

“My Lady, the first of the Marines is just up ahead,” informed the Star-born Lancer.

“Send out the friend or foe signal,” she commanded imperiously.

“It does that automatically,” reminded the technically proficient member of her staff, “that’s why they don’t register as enemies on your battle screen.”

“Right,” she said stiffly, remembering to activate her own battle screen, “then let’s introduce ourselves.”

However, instead of greeting her group of warriors with open arms, the Marine Jacks blocking her way further down the hall stiffened at the sight of her and the back row turned around, lowering their weapons.

“What is the meaning of this,” Akantha demanded in a clear, carrying and most importantly ringing voice authority, drawing herself up stiffly. While all around her, her own men had their weapons aimed at the marines.

The two groups of men were staring at one another like opposing packs of angry attack dogs.

“Now that his Puppet is in trouble of losing the very Brigade Command that just got a lot of good Marines killed, the Montagne whelp sends his woman to prop him up,” cried a faint voice from further up the corridor.

“What is the meaning of this outrage,” she demanded coldly, “shoulder your weapons.”

“Surrender your weapons, and you won’t be harmed,” said one of the Marines in a low voice, pointing a blaster rifle at her.

“Surrender or be slaughtered by my Lancers,” snarled Akantha, infuriated at the insult.

“Long live Parliament, you blasted Montagne lover,” sneered the Marine, “now on your knees, hands behind your head.”

“Clearly you haven’t the slightest clue who you’re dealing with,” Akantha said in a stiff imperious voice.

“Don’t be a fool, we’ve got you outnumbered, Lady,” scoffed the Marine, “if you even qualify for the title.”

“Watch out, she’s insane,” called the shuttle pilot.

“I won’t warn you again,” Akantha said evenly, “Starborn, turn their signals to hostile on our network.”

“Your funeral,” sneered the Marine.

Suddenly, weapons fire sounded down the corridor and as if this were a signal, her Honor Guard activated their plasma grenades and tossed them at the Marines.

Marines swore, “Montagne lick boots,” and returned fire with their blaster weapons.

“Messene,” screamed Akantha, one arm up to

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